That night, their boat drifted across the lake in darkness. Under a full moon high in the sky, the lake lay still—as if even the breath of waterfowl could be heard—and only the sound of empty waves lapping against the boat echoed in the silence. Between the flickering shadows of the lantern, the fishermen’s faces—marked with sweat, oil, and worry—flickered in and out of view. Their sighs sank into the waves, and before they knew it, dawn was breaking.

“That’s it! We’re done for today! Haul in the nets!”
Simon, unable to fight back the breaking day, hurled the rope lying next to him against the side of the boat and shouted in frustration. Awakened by the noise, distant waterfowl took flight, flapping their wings above Simon’s boat. Battling fatigue and sleep, Simon rowed briskly. Faces of his hungry children and weary family, marked by poverty, briefly danced across the surface of the water. His empty stomach churned with unrest.

As usual, women, children, neighborhood dogs, and elders were waiting in the distance—expecting the boats to return full of fish. For Simon, James, and John, it was deeply painful to see the disappointed faces of the women when they returned with empty nets. They had relied on Lake Gennesaret for decades, yet lately, they often came back with nothing. On this narrow patch of land with no real resources and poor soil, there was little else to do but go out onto the lake and cast their nets.

Something strange caught Simon’s eye. The crowd, whom he had expected to be waiting for their return, was instead gathered around someone—drawn toward him with rapt attention. Even his mother-in-law, who usually rushed to greet him, was nowhere to be seen. Muttering to himself that it was just as well, Simon docked his boat on the shore, away from the crowd, and began washing his nets to prepare for the next night’s launch. He decided he would rest through the day to make up for the sleepless night and head out early in the evening. Carefully, he began mending the torn and tangled nets. A part of him wondered if the man the crowd was gathered around could be the rumored prophet who had recently appeared in town—but Simon didn’t find the thought particularly interesting.

“May I borrow your boat for a moment?”
A man’s voice came from behind Simon’s shoulder just as he was finishing the net-washing. Annoyed, Simon turned around and snapped, “What?” But when their eyes met, Simon felt a strange tremor inside him. Never in all his years in Galilee had he seen such deep and gentle eyes. His rough beard stirred slightly in the wind. As he hesitated, he suddenly heard his mother-in-law’s voice calling out cheerfully from a distance, “Do what the teacher says!”
Startled, Simon set the boat afloat without much thought.

It was a strange thing. The young teacher, Jesus, spoke to the crowd by the shore about the Kingdom of Heaven. And somehow, as he listened, Simon’s fatigue, anxiety, and worries began to melt away. A peace deeper than anything he had known wrapped around him. For the first time, he felt the undeniable presence of God. Overwhelmed by an unseen but compelling power, Simon confessed in his heart that he was a sinner.

“Simon, thank you for lending me your boat! Now, let’s go out into the deep water and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon was filled with conviction.
“Master! We’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

His heart pounded. As he cast the freshly washed nets into the deep, a joy and strength unlike anything he’d ever known surged within him. Jesus, with a gentle smile, watched Simon’s strong and rugged movements.

“Look! A school of fish—so many fish!”

Simon had never seen so many fish in his entire life. Not only was his own boat filled to the brim, but he had to call for another to help. Both boats were so full they nearly sank. Tears welled up in Simon’s eyes. It was the moment when all the experience and skill he had built up over decades suddenly felt meaningless. His heart overflowed. For the first time, he tasted the true celebration of life. A powerful resolve rose within him: he must welcome this young teacher, Jesus, as the Lord of his life.
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, stood speechless in awe.

“Do not be afraid. From now on, you will fish for people.”

Simon, James, and John could no longer hesitate. They left their boats and nets behind and chose Jesus as the Lord of their lives. Together, they set out on a new journey.
Their lives began to sail toward the deep.

That day, the festival of Lake Gennesaret continues even now in the decisions and commitments of those who receive Christ as Lord of their lives. The miracle of overflowing nets still happens in many places today.